Tube splicer



Jan. 14, 1936 w. J. BRETH ET AL TUBE SPLICER Filed NOV. 14, 1934 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR5 Walter .I. Brebh BY Max Engler W I I'WcZ? ATTORN EYS Jan. 14, 1936. w.- J. BRETH ET AL TUBE SPLICER Filed NOV. 14, 1934 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 lNVENTORfi Walter .]C Breth BY Max Err/filer ATTORNEYS Jan. 14, 1936. I w. J BRETH r AL 2,027,854

TUBE SPLICER Filed O 54 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 7 +11 737 l .78 z

INVENTOR- Halter J. Breth ATTORNEYS 4 Patented Jan. 14, 1936 UNITED STATES TUBE srmcsa Walter J. Broth and Max Engler, Akron, Ohio,

assignors to The General Tire & Rubber Company, Akron, Ohio, a. corporation of Ohio Application November 14, 1934, Serial No. 753,014

14 Claims. This invention relates to apparatus for use in r the manufacture of tubes for pneumatic tires and the like, and more particularly to tube splicing apparatus.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide new and improved apparatus by means of which tubes for pneumatic tires and the'like can be easily and more eificiently spliced.

Another object is to provide a tube splicing apparatus which is adapted for splicing tubes of various sizes.

With the above and other objects in view, the present invention consists of certain features of construction and combinations of parts to be hereinafter described with reference to the accompanying drawings, and then claimed.

In the drawings which illustrate a suitable embodiment of the invention,

Figure 1 is a front elevation of the tube splicing apparatus;

Fig. 2 is a section taken approximately on line 22 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a horizontal section taken approximately on line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a partial side elevation of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic view of the control apparatus for the tube splicing apparatus;

Fig. 7 is a section taken on line '||--l of Fig. 1;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary view of the knife holder and knives.

Fig. 9 is an enlarged section taken approximately on line 9-8 of Fig. 7;

Fig. 10 is an enlarged section taken approximately on line Ill-I0 of Fig. 7

' Fig. 11 is a section taken approximately on line I of Fig. 8 showing the holder and cutting knives;

Fig. 12 is a diagrammatic view showing the arrangement of the clamping blocks and cutter just prior to the cutting operation;

Fig. 13 is a diagrammatic view showing the arrangement of the parts during the cutting operation; and

Fig. 14 is a diagrammatic view showing the arrangement of the clamping parts after the cutting operation and at the time the cut ends of the tube are brought into engagement with each other.

Referring to the accompanying drawings in which like numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views, the apparatus is supported upon a suitable framework It: having a table I6 thereon.

Mounted upon the table It is a base member having a block l9 extending at right angles from one side thereof, the base member |1 having a guideway 2| extending longitudinally thereof. This guideway 2| slidably receives slide member I 8 having a dovetailed guide face I 8a and a block 20 extending at right angles from one end thereof parallel to the block I9. The slide member I8 is rendered movable in the guideway 2| by means of a toggle linkage comprising a link 22 pivoted at one end at 23 to base member I1 and a link 24 pivoted at one end at 25 to slide member I8, the opposite ends of the links 22 and 24 being pivotally connected by a pivot pin 26 to which a yoked rod 26a is pivotally connected. The rod 26a is provided with a plunger which is actuated from within a fluid pressure chamber 21 having fluid connections 28 and 29 with a control valve 38, the control valve 38 being connected into a pressure line 311.

Each of the blocks I9 and 20 is provided with a flanged member 32 at its outer side which supports a tube supporting plate 33 that projects slightly over the block, and mounted at the rearward end of the plate 33 is a guide strip 34 having an adjustment longitudinally of the plate. The guide strips 34 of the two blocks are aligned with each other and preferably provided with a layer 35 of rubber vulcanized thereto as shown in Figs. 9 and 10.

Each of the blocks l9 and 20 is provided with a longitudinally extending guideway 36 which slidably receives a dove-tailed guide 31 of a plate member 38 having an upstanding flange 39a as shown in Fig. 10. Y 30 Vulcanized or otherwise secured to the top surface of each plate member 38 is a longitudinally extending gripper block or jaw 39 of rubber, one side face of which extends slightly beyond the inner face 48 of the block to which it is secured. A bar 4| is secured to the plate member 38 between the rubber jaw 39 and plate flange 39a by means of cap screws 42 which extend through enlarged openings 43 provided in the bar 4|. Screws 44 are provided in the flange 39a to engage with the bar 4|, and by loosening the screws 42 and adjusting the screws 44 the rubber jaw 39 may be distorted laterally sufficiently to cause its inner side face to be properly positioned beyond the inner side face 40 of the blocks. 5

One of the plate members 38 is provided with a transversely extending rectangular shaped bar 45 which is received with a sliding fit in a guide recess 48 provided in the other plate member 38. Also eachplate member 38 is provided at its 50 outer end with an upstanding flange 41 to which a rubber guide strip 48 is secured and arranged parallel to guide strip 34. These guide strips 48 are spaced by a spacer 49 from flange 41, as shown in Fig. 9.

As shown in Fig. 9, one of the plate members 38 is provided with a pull handle 50, which when actuated, simultaneously slides the plate members 38 by reason of bar 45 relative to the blocks l9 and 20. This movement of the plate members adjusts the distance between the guide strips 48 and 34 to accommodate tubes of different widths. It will be noted that by reason of this means any desired degree of adjustment may be obtained.

Extending upwardly through the base member H are a plurality of rods 5| which support-a member 5|a having a block 52 disposed parallel to and directly over block I9. Also extending upwardly from member I8 is a fixed rod 53 which receives with a vertical sliding fit a slide member 54 corresponding to slide member I8, and which also has a block 55 extending over block 29 in parallel relation, as shown in Figs. 1 and 5. The slide member 54 is slidably mounted in member 5|a by means of dove-tailed guide faces 56.

Each of the blocks 52 and 55 is provided with plate members 56a to which rubber blocks or tube gripping jaws 51 are mounted preferably in the same manner in 'which the rubber jaws 39 are mounted on the lower plates 38.

The rods 5| which slidably extend through base member II are interconnected below base member I! by means of a cross head 58 to which a reciprocable plunger rod 59 is connected.

The plunger rod 59 operates within a fluid pressure cylinder 68 which is provided with fluid connections 6| and 62 at its opposite ends that lead to a fluid control valve 63, the valve 63 having a connection 64 which leads to the fluid pressure line 3|. Reciprocation of the plunger rod 59 will, of course, raise and lower the members 5Ia and 54 and the gripper jaws 51 carried thereby.

Mounted upon the upper member 5 la. is an upstanding bracket 65 having vertical guideways 66 therein, which slidably receive a reciprocable arm 61 to which a plunger rod 68 is connected. The rod 68 operates within a stationary fluid pressure cylinder 69, the opposite endsof which have fluid connections I0 and II leading to a fluid control valve I2, the valve I2 having a connection I3 leading to the fluid pressure line 3 I.

The arm 61 is provided with depending elements I4 which support a block I5 at their lower ends to which a pair of spaced cutters or knives I6 are secured. Mounted between the knives I6 is a slidable stripper bar I1 which is resiliently urged to its lowermost position by compression springs I8. The knives I6 are heated by means of resistance elements I9 connected through a thermostat control device 88 to a source of current. The stripper bar 11 is insulated by means of a pad Ila of asbestos or other suitable material to prevent the transmission of heat from the elements 19 to the supported tube.

The thermostat control device 88 serves to maintain the cutting knives I6 at the most emcient temperature.

It will be noted that the cutter knives 16 are of substantially the same length as the rubber tube gripping jaws 39 and 51, and the knife I6 at the left as viewed in Figs. 1 and 12, is substantially in the plane of the inner faces of the jaws at the left.

Mounted to extend through the table I6 is a plunger rod 8| having a pad 82 at its upper end, which is preferably covered with a resilient facing of a width corresponding to the distance between the knives I6. The rod 8| is guided for reciprocation in a sleeve 82 carried by the table I6 and is actuated by a foot treadle 83 pivotally mounted at the lower portion of the frame-work l5. The sleeve is provided with an elongated slot 84 and the rod 8| carries a pin 85 which slides in slot 84 and prevents rotation of the rod 8|.

In the operation of the apparatus, the ends of the uncured tube A are positioned over the plates 33 and over the lower gripping jaws 39 which are 5 spaced apart as shown in Fig. 1, and with the ends of the tube lying in spaced relation slightly inwardly of the jaw side faces. The plates 38 are then moved in their supporting blocks by grasping the handle member 50, so as to engage the guide strips 34 and 48 with the sides of the tube A to'align the ends of the tube A with each other.

The operator then operates control valve 63 which retracts plunger rod 59 and draws members Ma and 58- downwardly until the ends of 15 the tube are securely clamped between the upper and lower jaws 51 and 39, as shown diagrammatically in Fig. 12. The foot treadle 83 is then depressed to raise the pad 82 to a position snugly between the lower jaws 39 and engaging the un- 20 der sides of the projecting tube ends as shown in Fig. 12.

The upper face of the tube in its supported position lies above the guide strips 34 and 48, so these strips will not interfere with the clamping 25 of the tube ends.

The operator next actuates control valve I2 to cause a downward travel of the arm 61. During the downward travel of arm 61 the cutter knives I6 pass between the rubber jaws as shown in Fig. I3 with a close fit and shear off the projecting ends of the tube, the stripper plate 11, during shearing operation, gripping these ends, so that clean cut edges are provided. The control valve 12 is again actuated to raise the cutter blades 35 from between the rubber clamping jaws.

Since the cutter knives are heated, the tackiness of the severed end faces of the uncured tube will be increased as is well known in the art. Immediately after the knives are raised, the pressure is removed from the foot treadle to drop the pad 82 from between the jaws 39, and the control valve 38 is actuated. Since the base member I1 and the upper member are held against movement relative to each other by means of the rods 5|, and since the slidable members I8 and 54 are held against movement relative to each other by means of rods 53, the proper actuation of the control valve 38 will cause the plunger rod 26a to move members l8 and 54 in unison relative to members l1 and Blu and cause the jaws 39 and 51 at the right as viewed in Fig. 1, to move toward the other jaws 39 and 51, respectively. This brings the clean cut ends of the tube A to be brought into aligned contact with each other, 55 as shown diagrammatically in Fig. 14. These ends, because of their tackiness, will then adhere to each other as is well known when they are brought into close engagement by the jaws 39 and 51.

Since the clamping jaws are of rubber or other suitable resilient material, they wllligive a sumcient amount to permit the clean cut edges of the tube ends to be brought into a firm adhering engagement with each other so that the adhering tacky edges will form a closed container which will hold air during the subsequent vulcanizing operation.

After this, the control valves 63 and 39 are actuated to restore the jaws 39 and 51 to their initial positions, that is, the positions indicated in Figure 1.

The tube A is then removed for vulcanization in a suitable vulcanizing apparatus.

The tube, as is well known in the art, after it 7.5

is formed, contains some such material as soapstone so that during the operation of clamping the ends of the tube and the shearing or the same, thismaterial will prevent the cut edges at each end from adhering to each other.

Furthermore, it is to be understood that the particular form of apparatus shown and described, and the particular procedure set forth, are presented for purposes of explanationand illustration and that various modifications of said apparatus and procedure can be made without departing from our invention as defined in the appended claims.

What we claim is:

1. In an apparatus for splicing tubes, a pair of spaced tube end supporting members, each diswith each other, a pair-oi spaced clamping members, means for moving said clamping members toward said supporting members to clamp the supported ends of the tube against said supporting members, means for severing the projecting ends of the tube, and means for moving the members which clamp one end of the tube toward the other members to bring the ends of the tube into engagement with each other.

2. In an apparatus for splicing tubes, a pair of spaced tube endsupporting members, each disposed to support an end of a tube with a portion of the end projecting beyond the same, means for moving one of said members transversely relative to the other to align the ends of the tube with each other, ,a pair of spaced clamping members,

means for moving said clamping members toward said supporting members to clamp the supported ends of the tube against said supporting members,

means for severing the projecting ends of the tube, and means for moving the members which clamp one end of the tube toward the other members to bring the ends of the tube into engagement with each other, each of said supporting and clamping members being of a resilient material.

3. In an apparatus for splicing tubes, a pair of spaced tube end supporting members, each disposed to support an end of a tube with a portion of the end projecting beyond the same, means for moving one of said members transversely relative to the other to align the ends of the tube with each other, a pair of spaced clamping mem bers, means for moving said clamping members toward said supporting members to clamp the supported ends of the tube against said supporting members, means for severing the projecting ends of the tube, and means for moving the members which clamp one end of the tube toward the other members to bring the ends of the tube into engagement with each' other, each of said supporting and clamping members being of rubber.

4. In an apparatus for splicing tubes, a pair of spaced tube end supporting members, each disposed to support an end of a tube with a portion of the end projecting beyond the same, means for moving one of said members transversely relative to the other to align the ends of the tube with each other, a pair of spaced clamping members, means for moving said clamping members toward said supporting members to clamp the supported ends of the tube against said supporting members, a pair of spaced cutting knives, means for moving said knives between said clamping members to sever the projecting ends of the tube, and means for moving the members which clamp posed to support an end of a tube with the end projecting beyond the same, a pair 01' aligned guides, a second pair of aligned guides on said members spaced from the first pair, each guide of one pair being movable toward the corresponding guide of the other pair to adjust the space therebetween to a predetermined width corresponding to the width of the tube to bespliced, a pair of spaced tube clamping members disposed above and in alignment with said supporting members, means for moving said clamping members toward said supporting members to clamp the tube ends, means for severing the projecting tube ends, and means for moving the members which clamp one end of the tube towards the other members to bring the ends of the tube into errgagement with each other. 4

6. In an apparatus for splicing tubes, a pair of spaced tube and supporting members, each disposed to support an end of a tube with the end projecting beyond the same, a pair of aligned guides, a second pair of aligned guides on said members spaced from the first pair, each guide of one pair being movable toward the corresponding guide of the other pair to adjust the space therebetween to a predetermined width corresponding to the width of the tube to be spliced, a pair of spaced tube clamping members disposed above and in alignment with said supporting members, means for moving said clamping members toward said supporting members to clamp the tube ends, means for severing the projecting tube ends, and means for moving the members which clamp one end of the tube towards the other members to bring the ends of the tube into engagement with each other, each of said guides having a tube engaging portion of rubber.

7. In an apparatus for splicing tubes, a fixed lower member, an upper member movable towards said lower member, arms extending from said members in parallel superposed relation, a lower member longitudinally slidably mounted in said fixed member, an upper member longitudinally mounted in said upper member, said last mentioned members having arms extending therefrom in superposed parallel relation in alignment with the first mentioned arms, resilient tube clamping elements mounted on said arms, means for moving the first mentioned upper member towmds said fixed lower member, and a common means for sliding said slidable members relative to the first mentioned lower and upper members to move the last mentioned arms substantially into engagement with the first mentioned arms.

8. In an apparatus for splicing tubes, a. fixed lower member, an upper member movable towards said lower member, arms extending from said members in parallel superposed relation, a lower member longitudinally slidably mounted in said fixed member, an upper member longitudinally mounted in said upper member, said last mentioned members having arms extending therefrom in superposed parallel relation in alignment with the first mentioned arms, resilient tube clamping elements of rubber mountedon said arms, means for moving the first mentioned upper member towards said fixed lower member, and a common means for sliding said slidable members relative to the first mentioned lower and upper members to move the last mentioned arms substantially into engagement with the first men'- tioned arms.

9. In an apparatus for splicing tubes, a fixed lower member, an upper member movable towards said lower member, arms extending from said members in parallel superposed relation, a lower member longitudinally slidabiy mounted in said fixed member, an upper member longitudinally mounted in said upper member, said last mentioned members having arms extending therefrom in superposed parallel relation in alignment with the first mentioned arms, resilient tube clamping elements mounted on said arms, means for moving the first-mentioned upper member towards said fixed lower member, spaced cutting knives movable between the pairs 0! superposed arms, and a common means for sliding said slidable members relative to the first mentioned lower and upper members to move the last mentioned arms substantially into engagement with the first mentioned arms.

10. In an apparatus for splicing tubes, 9. flxed lower member, an upper member movable towards said lower member, arms extending from said.

guides, means to move said other guides relative to the first guides to adjust the spacing therebetween, means for moving the first mentioned upper member towards said fixed lower member, and a common means for sliding said slidable members relative to the first mentioned lower and upper members to move the last mentioned arms substantially into engagement with the first mentioned arms.

11. In an apparatus for splicing tubes, a pair of spaced tube end supporting members, each disposed to support an end of a tube with a portion of the end projectingbeyond the same, means for moving one of said members relative to the other to align the ends of the tube with each other, a pair of spaced clamping members, means for moving said clamping members toward said supporting members to clamp the supported ends of the tube against said supporting members, a

pad member movable between said supporting members to support the projecting tube ends, means formoving said pad member between said supporting members into tube end supporting position, cutting means movable between said clamping members to sever the projecting tube ends, said pad membersupporting the tube ends during the severing thereof, and means for moving the supporting and clamping members which clamp one end of the tube toward the other means for moving one or said members relative to the other to align the ends of the tube with each other, a pair oi! spaced clampin'g'members, means for moving said clamping members toward said supporting members to clamp the supported 5 ends oi. the tube against said supporting members, a pad member movable between said supporting members to support the projecting tube ends, means for moving said pad member between said supporting members into tube end supporting position, cutting means movable between said clamping members to sever the projecting tube ends, said pad member supporting the tube ends during the severing thereof, and means for moving the supporting and clamping members which clamp one end of the tube toward the other members to bring the ends oi. the tube into abutting engagement with each other, said pad member having a resilient tube end engaging surface.

13. In an apparatus for splicing tubes, a pair of spaced tube end supporting members, each disposed to support an end oi! a tube with a portion of the end projecting beyond the same, means for moving one of said members relative to the other to align the ends of the tube with each other, a pair of spaced clamping members, means for moving said clamping members toward said supporting members to clamp the supported'ends oi the tube against said supporting members, a pad member movable between said supporting members to support the projecting tube ends, means for moving said pad member between said supporting members into tube end supporting position, cutting means movable between said clamping members to sever the projecting tube ends, said pad member supporting the tube ends during the severing thereof, and means for moving the supporting and clamping members which clamp one end of the tube toward the other members to bring the ends oi! the tube into abutting engagement with each other, said cutting means comprising spaced heated cutter knives.

14. In an apparatus for splicing tubes, a pair of spaced tube end supporting members, each disposed to support an end of a tube with a por- 45 tion of the end projecting beyond the same, means for moving one of said members relative to the other to align the ends oi. the tube with each other, a pair of spaced clamping members, means for moving said clamping members toward said 50 supporting members to clamp the supported ends of the tube against said supporting members, a pad member movable between said supporting members to support the projecting tube ends, means for moving said pad member between said 55 supporting members into tube end supporting position, cutting means movable between said clamping members to sever the projecting tube ends, said pad member supporting the tube ends during the severing thereof, and means for mov- 00 ing the supporting and clamping members which clamp one end of the tube toward the other members to bring the ends 01' the tube into abutting engagement with each other, said cutting means comprising spaced heated cutter knives, and said 65 pad member being arranged to' be spaced from said tube end supporting members to permit the passage of said knives between said pad and supporting members. 

